U.S. patent application number 13/865621 was filed with the patent office on 2013-09-05 for cleaning apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Woo Ram CHUNG, Jun Pyo HONG, Hwi Chan JANG, Sam Jong JEUNG, Jae Man JOO, Jae Young JUNG, Dong Won KIM, Jang Youn KO, Jun Hwa LEE, Jeong Gon SONG, Kyung Hwan YOO.
Application Number | 20130227801 13/865621 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42635347 |
Filed Date | 2013-09-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130227801 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KIM; Dong Won ; et
al. |
September 5, 2013 |
CLEANING APPARATUS
Abstract
A cleaning apparatus including a main body, a dust collection
unit detachably installed on the main body and provided with a
plurality of inlets, through which foreign substances are
introduced into the dust collection unit, and a connection hole, to
which an external instrument is connected, a shutter to open and
close one inlet, and a cap to open and close the connection hole.
The shutter opens and closes the inlet in cooperation with one of
whether or not the dust collection unit is attached to or detached
from the main body and whether or not the connection hole is opened
or closed.
Inventors: |
KIM; Dong Won; (Hwaseong-si,
KR) ; JANG; Hwi Chan; (Suwon-si, KR) ; JOO;
Jae Man; (Suwon-si, KR) ; HONG; Jun Pyo;
(Suwon-si, KR) ; LEE; Jun Hwa; (Suwon-si, KR)
; CHUNG; Woo Ram; (Seoul, KR) ; JUNG; Jae
Young; (Suwon-si, KR) ; YOO; Kyung Hwan;
(Incheon-si, KR) ; KO; Jang Youn; (Gwangju,
KR) ; SONG; Jeong Gon; (Gwangju, KR) ; JEUNG;
Sam Jong; (Gwangju, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD. |
Suwon-si |
|
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO.,
LTD.
Suwon-si
KR
|
Family ID: |
42635347 |
Appl. No.: |
13/865621 |
Filed: |
April 18, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
12801309 |
Jun 2, 2010 |
8438694 |
|
|
13865621 |
|
|
|
|
61213569 |
Jun 19, 2009 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
15/21.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 2201/00 20130101;
A47L 7/02 20130101; A47L 11/24 20130101; A47L 9/106 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/21.1 |
International
Class: |
A47L 11/24 20060101
A47L011/24 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 18, 2009 |
KR |
2009-76068 |
Claims
1. A cleaning apparatus comprising: a main body; a dust collection
unit detachably installed on the main body and provided with a
plurality of inlets, through which foreign substances are
introduced into the dust collection unit, and a connection hole, to
which an external instrument is connected; a shutter to open and
close one inlet; a cap to open and close the connection hole; and
guides to guide opening and closing of the inlet by the shutter in
cooperation with one of whether or not the dust collection unit is
attached to or detached from the main body and whether or not the
connection hole is opened or closed.
2. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shutter
is hinged to one side of the inlet of the dust collection unit, and
is rotated to open and close the inlet.
3. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising
interlocking levers, each of which is provided with one end
connected to the shutter and the other end having an interlocking
protrusion guided by each guide, rotated together with the shutter,
wherein a guide plane inclined in a direction of attaching and
detaching the dust collection unit to and from the main body to
guide the interlocking protrusion is provided on each guide.
4. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the cap is
provided with one end hinged to the dust collection unit, and is
rotated to open and close the connection hole.
5. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the guides
are rotatably installed on the main body, and are rotated to
support the interlocking protrusions.
6. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising
pressure members, each of which is provided with one end connected
to a cap hinge shaft provided on the cap, rotated together with the
cap to apply pressure to the guides so as to rotate the guides.
7. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising
restoring springs installed on guide hinge shafts to rotatably
install the guides on the main body, and restoring the guides to
their original positions.
8. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a reception
recess to receive and support the interlocking protrusion guided by
the guide plane is provided at one side of the guide plane of each
guide.
9. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the dust
collection unit includes a first storage part to collect relatively
large foreign substances, a second storage part to collect
relatively small foreign substances, a first inlet through which
foreign substances are introduced into the first storage part, and
a second inlet through which foreign substances are introduced into
the second storage part; and the shutter opens and closes the first
inlet.
10. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the dust
collection unit further includes a support protrusion provided at
the lower end of the first inlet to support the lower end of the
shutter and to guide, in cooperation with the shutter, air,
introduced into the first storage part through the first inlet, to
the lower portion of the first storage part.
11. A cleaning apparatus comprising: a main body; a dust collection
unit detachably installed on the main body and provided with a
plurality of inlets, through which foreign substances are
introduced into the dust collection unit, and a connection hole, to
which an external instrument is connected; a cap to open and close
the connection hole; and a shutter to open and close one inlet in
cooperation with the cap.
12. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the cap
is hinged to one side of the connection hole of the dust collection
unit and is rotated to open and close the connection hole, and the
shutter is hinged to one side of the inlet of the dust collection
unit and is rotated to open and close the inlet.
13. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 12, further
comprising: guides, each of which includes a guide plane to guide
rotation of the shutter, rotatably installed on the main body;
interlocking levers, each of which is provided with one end
connected to a shutter hinge shaft provided on the shutter and the
other end having an interlocking protrusion guided by guide plane,
rotated together with the shutter; and pressure members, each of
which is provided with one end connected to a cap hinge shaft
provided on the cap, rotated together with the cap to apply
pressure to the guides so as to rotate the guides.
14. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 11, wherein: the dust
collection unit includes a first storage part to collect relatively
large foreign substances, a second storage part to collect
relatively small foreign substances, a first inlet through which
foreign substances are introduced into the first storage part, and
a second inlet through which foreign substances are introduced into
the second storage part; and the shutter opens and closes the first
inlet.
15. A cleaning apparatus comprising: a main body; a dust collection
unit detachably installed on the main body, the dust collection
unit including inlets to collect foreign substances and a
connection hole to discharge collected foreign substances; a brush
unit to sweep the foreign substances to the inside of the dust
collection unit through the inlets; a cap to open and close the
connection hole; and a shutter to open and close one of the inlets
in cooperation with the cap
16. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the
inlets include a first inlet through which the foreign substances
swept by a brush unit are introduced into the dust collection unit,
and a second inlet through which suspended particles of the foreign
substances are introduced into the dust collection unit together
with air, the second inlet being provided above the first inlet in
parallel with the first inlet, an inner space of the dust
collection unit is divided into a first storage part connected with
the first inlet, and a second storage part is connected to the
second inlet, and a filter to filter out the foreign substances
from the air is disposed in the second storage part.
17. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the cap
is hinged to one side of the connection hole of the dust collection
unit and is rotated to open and close the connection hole, and the
shutter is hinged to one side of the first inlet of the dust
collection unit and is rotated to open and close the first
inlet.
18. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 17, further
comprising: guides, each of which includes a guide plane to guide
rotation of the shutter, rotatably installed on the main body;
interlocking levers, each of which is provided with one end
connected to a shutter hinge shaft provided on the shutter and the
other end having an interlocking protrusion guided by guide plane,
rotated together with the shutter; and pressure members, each of
which is provided with one end connected to a cap hinge shaft
provided on the cap, rotated together with the cap to apply
pressure to the guides so as to rotate the guides.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser.
No. 12/801,309, filed Jun. 2, 2010, which claims the benefit of
U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/213,569, filed on Jun.
19, 2009, and Korean Patent Application No. 2009-076068, filed on
Aug. 18, 2009 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the
disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field
[0003] Embodiments relate to a cleaning apparatus which prevents
foreign substances from pouring out of a dust collection unit
through an inlet of the dust collection unit.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] In general, cleaning apparatuses are apparatuses which
remove foreign substances, such as dust, from a floor to be
cleaned. Among the cleaning apparatuses, there is a robot cleaner
which cleans a designated area while autonomously traveling without
user manipulation.
[0006] The robot cleaner includes a main body, a dust collection
unit to collect foreign substances, wheels installed on the lower
surface of the main body so as to allow the robot cleaner to
perform cleaning while traveling, and a brush unit to sweep foreign
substances accumulated on a floor to the inside of the dust
collection unit through an inlet provided on the dust collection
unit.
[0007] The dust collection unit is detachably installed on the main
body, and, if a proper amount of foreign substances are collected
in the dust collection unit, the dust collection unit is separated
from the main body so as to easily remove the foreign substances
from the inside of the dust collection unit.
[0008] If the dust collection unit is carelessly separated from the
main body, the foreign substances collected in the dust collection
unit may pour out of the dust collection unit through the inlet.
Thus, the dust collection unit needs to be carefully separated from
the main body.
SUMMARY
[0009] Therefore, it is an aspect to provide a cleaning apparatus
which prevents foreign substances from pouring out of a dust
collection unit through an inlet of the dust collection unit during
a process of separating the dust collection unit from a main
body.
[0010] It is another aspect to provide a cleaning apparatus which
effectively removes foreign substances from the inside of a dust
collection unit through an external instrument.
[0011] Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the
description which follows and, in part, will be aparent from the
description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.
[0012] In accordance with one aspect, a cleaning apparatus includes
a main body, a dust collection unit detachably installed on the
main body and provided with a plurality of inlets, through which
foreign substances are introduced into the dust collection unit,
and a connection hole, to which an external instrument is
connected, a shutter to open and close one inlet, a cap to open and
close the connection hole, and guides to guide opening and closing
of the inlet by the shutter in cooperation with one of whether or
not the dust collection unit is attached to or detached from the
main body and whether or not the connection hole is opened or
closed.
[0013] The shutter may be hinged to one side of the inlet of the
dust collection unit, and may be rotated to open and close the
inlet.
[0014] The cleaning apparatus may further include interlocking
levers, each of which is provided with one end connected to the
shutter and the other end having an interlocking protrusion guided
by each guide, rotated together with the shutter, and a guide plane
inclined in a direction of attaching and detaching the dust
collection unit to and from the main body to guide the interlocking
protrusion may be provided on each guide.
[0015] The cap may be provided with one end hinged to the dust
collection unit, and may be rotated to open and close the
connection hole.
[0016] The guides may be rotatably installed on the main body, and
may be rotated to support the interlocking protrusions.
[0017] The cleaning apparatus may further include pressure members,
each of which is provided with one end connected to a cap hinge
shaft provided on the cap, rotated together with the cap to apply
pressure to the guides so as to rotate the guides.
[0018] The cleaning apparatus may further include restoring springs
installed on guide hinge shafts to rotatably install the guides on
the main body, and restoring the guides to their original
positions.
[0019] A reception recess to receive and support the interlocking
protrusion guided by the guide plane may be provided at one side of
the guide plane of each guide.
[0020] The dust collection unit may include a first storage part to
collect relatively large foreign substances, a second storage part
to collect relatively small foreign substances, a first inlet
through which foreign substances are introduced into the first
storage part, and a second inlet through which foreign substances
are introduced into the second storage part, and the shutter may
open and close the first inlet.
[0021] The dust collection unit may further include a support
protrusion provided at the lower end of the first inlet to support
the lower end of the shutter and to guide, in cooperation with the
shutter, air, introduced into the first storage part through the
first inlet, to the lower portion of the first storage part.
[0022] In accordance with another aspect, a cleaning apparatus
includes a main body, a dust collection unit detachably installed
on the main body and provided with a plurality of inlets, through
which foreign substances are introduced into the dust collection
unit, and a connection hole, to which an external instrument is
connected, a cap to open and close the connection hole, and a
shutter to open and close one inlet in cooperation with the
cap.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] These and/or other aspects will become apparent and more
readily appreciated from the following description of the
embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of
which:
[0024] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cleaning apparatus in
accordance with one embodiment;
[0025] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal-sectional view of the cleaning
apparatus in accordance with the embodiment;
[0026] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a dust collection unit
applied to the cleaning apparatus in accordance with the
embodiment; and
[0027] FIGS. 4 to 6 are schematic views illustrating an operation
of a shutter applied to the cleaning apparatus in accordance with
the embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0028] Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments,
examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings,
wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements
throughout.
[0029] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a cleaning apparatus 1 in
accordance with one embodiment includes a main body 10 forming an
external appearance of the cleaning apparatus 1, a dust collection
unit 20 separably installed on the main body 10 to collect foreign
substances, a brush unit 30 to sweep foreign substances on a floor
to the inside of the dust collection unit 20, and an air blower
unit 40 to allow small particles of the foreign substances, which
are suspended upwardly by the brush unit 30, to be sucked into the
dust collection unit 20. A plurality of wheels 11 and 12 to allow
the cleaning apparatus 1 to perform cleaning while autonomously
traveling is installed at both sides of the lower surface of the
main body 10.
[0030] The dust collection unit 20, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, is
provided with a pair of inlets 20a and 20b, through which dust is
introduced into the dust collection unit 20, formed at one side
thereof. The inlets 20a and 20b includes a first inlet 20a, through
which the foreign substances swept by the brush unit 30 are
introduced into the dust collection unit 20, and a second inlet
20b, through which suspended particles of the foreign substances
are introduced into the dust collection unit 20 together with air,
provided above the first inlet 20a in parallel with the first inlet
20a. A transmission hole 20c, through which the air introduced into
the dust collection unit 20 through the second inlet 20b is
discharged to the air blower unit 40, is provided through the dust
collection unit 20. Further, the inner space of the dust collection
unit 20 is divided into a first storage part 20d connected with the
first inlet 20a such that relatively large particles of the foreign
substances are mainly collected in the first storage part 20d, and
a second storage part 20e connected to the second inlet 20b and the
transmission hole 20c such that relatively small particles of the
foreign substances are mainly collected in the second storage part
20e. A filter 21 to filter out the foreign substances from the air
so as to allow the obtained clean air to be transmitted to the air
blower unit 40 through the transmission hole 20c is disposed in the
second storage part 20e.
[0031] The brush unit 30 includes a roller 31 rotated by rotary
force transmitted from a driving motor (not shown) installed in the
main body 10, brushes 32 made of an elastic material and implanted
in the roller 31 so as to be protruded outwardly in the radial
direction of the roller 31, and flaps 33 made of an elastic
material to increase a diameter of the brush unit 30 on which
foreign substances, such as hair are wound. The brush unit 30 is
rotated and sweeps relatively large particles of foreign substances
on the floor to the inside of the first storage part 20d of the
dust collection unit 20 through the first inlet 20a. A brush
cleaning member 20f extended toward the brush unit 30 in the shape
of a comb to remove the foreign substances wound on the brushes 32
is formed at one side of the second inlet 20b of the dust
collection unit 20.
[0032] The air blower unit 40 is installed in front of the brush
unit 30. The air blower unit 40 includes an air blower fan 41
rotated by the rotary force transmitted from the driving motor (not
shown), and a suction channel 42 connected with the dust collection
unit 20 to transmit suction force generated from the air blower fan
41 to the dust collection unit 20. The small particles of the
foreign substances suspended from the floor by the brush unit 30
are inhaled to the inside of the second storage part 20e of the
dust collection unit 20 through the second inlet 20b.
[0033] The wheels 11 and 12 include a pair of traveling wheels 11
disposed at both sides of the lower surface of the main body 10 in
parallel, and a caster wheel 12 disposed at a front part of the
lower surface of the main body 10.
[0034] Further, a shutter 22 to prevent the foreign substances
collected in the dust collection unit 20 from pouring out of the
dust collection unit 20 through the first inlet 20a is installed at
one side the first inlet 20a of the dust collection unit 20. A
shutter hinge shaft 22a to hinge the shutter 22 to the front part
of the first inlet 20a is formed at one end of the shutter 22, and
the other end of the shutter 22 is extended to the inside of the
first storage part 20d through the first inlet 20a. A support
protrusion 20h supporting the lower end of the shutter 22 entering
the first storage part 20d through the first inlet 20a to rotate
the shutter 22 toward the inside of the first storage part 20d is
formed at the lower end of the first inlet 20a of the dust
collection unit 20.
[0035] Therefore, as the dust collection unit 20 is attached to or
detached from the main body 10, the shutter 22 is rotated around
the shutter hinge shaft 22a within the first storage part 20d in
cooperation with the attachment of the dust collection unit 20 to
the main body 10 or the detachment of the dust collection unit 20
from the main body 10, and the lower end of the shutter 22 is
supported by the support protrusion 20h or is separated from the
support protrusion 20h, thereby opening or closing the first inlet
20a.
[0036] Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the dust collection unit
20 is configured such that the foreign substances collected in the
dust collection unit 20 are removed from the dust collection unit
20 without separation of the dust collection unit 20 from the main
body 10. For this purpose, a connection hole 20g to which an
external instrument V, such as a vacuum cleaner, is connected is
formed through the upper surface of the dust collection unit 20.
The connection hole 20g is connected to the first storage part 20d
and the second storage part 20e respectively such that all the
foreign substances collected in the first storage part 20d and the
second storage part 20e are inhaled to the external instrument V
through the connection hole 20g. A cap 24 to selectively open the
connection hole 20g only if the external instrument V needs to be
connected to the connection hole 20g is installed on the connection
hole 20g. A cap hinge shaft 24a to allow the cap 24 to be rotatably
installed on the upper surface of the dust collection unit 20 is
provided at one end of the cap 24, and thus the cap 24 is hinged to
the upper surface of the dust collection unit 20 through the cap
hinge shaft 24a and is rotated to open and close the connection
hole 20g.
[0037] Here, the shutter 22 opens and closes the first inlet 20a
according to whether or not the dust collection unit 20 is attached
to or detached from the main body 10 and whether or not the
connection hole 20g is opened or closed. For this purpose, guides
13, to guide rotation of the shutter 22 according to attachment and
detachment of the dust collection unit 20 to and from the main boy
10 and to guide rotation of the shutter 22 according to opening and
closing of the connection hole 20g by the cap 24, are installed on
the main body 10, and interlocking levers 23, each of which is
provided with one end connected to the shutter hinge shaft 22a and
the other end guided by each guide 13, are installed on the shutter
22, thereby rotating the shutter 22 together with rotation of the
interlocking levers 23 according to rotation of the interlocking
levers 23 guided by the guides 13.
[0038] Here, a pair of interlocking levers 23 is provided. One end
of each interlocking lever 23 is connected to each of both ends of
the shutter hinge shaft 22a, such that the interlocking levers 23
are rotated together with rotation of the shutter 22, and an
interlocking protrusion 23a which is guided by the guide 13 so as
to allow the interlocking lever 23 to be rotated around the shutter
hinge shaft 22a is protruded horizontally from the other end of
each interlocking lever 23.
[0039] Each of the guides 13 includes a guide plane 13a inclined in
a direction of attaching and detaching the dust collection unit 20
to and from the main body 10 to guide the interlocking protrusion
23a and thus to guide rotation of the interlocking lever 23 and the
shutter 22 to which the interlocking lever 23 is connected, a
support plane 13b provided to form a V shape together with the
guide plane 13a such that the interlocking protrusion 23a moving
along the guide plane 13a is supported by the support plane 13b,
and a reception recess 13c formed between the guide plane 13a and
the support plane 13b such that the interlocking protrusion 23a is
seated in and supported by the reception recess 13c.
[0040] With reference to FIG. 3 again, the shutter 22 is rotated
together with the cap 24 under the condition that the dust
collection unit 20 is installed in the main body 10, thereby
opening and closing the first inlet 20a. That is, if the cap 24 is
rotated and thus opens the connection hole 20g, the first inlet 20
is closed, and if the cap 24 closes the connection hole 20g, the
first inlet 20a is opened. This prevents suction force, transmitted
from the external instrument V, from being transmitted to the
outside of the dust collection unit 20 through the first inlet 20a
at more than a proper level, and simultaneously allows air inhaled
through the first inlet 20a to pass through the first storage part
20d with a sufficient velocity, thereby causing the foreign
substances in the first storage part 20d to be effectively
removed.
[0041] In order to rotate the shutter 22 in cooperation with the
cap 24, the guides 13 are rotatably installed in the main body 10,
and pressure members 25, each of which is provided with one end
connected to the cap hinge shaft 24a so as to be rotated together
with the cap 24 and to rotate the guides 13, are provided on the
dust collection unit 20.
[0042] A guide hinge shaft 13d is protruded integrally from a
portion of each guide 13 adjacent to the reception hole 13c,
thereby rotatably installing each guide 13 on the main body 10. A
pressure part 25a latched to each guide 13 according to rotation of
the pressure member 25 to transmit force to the guide 13 is formed
On the other end of each pressure member 25. Further, a restoring
spring 14 including a torsion spring is installed on the guide
hinge shaft 13d, thereby restoring the guide 13 to its original
position if the force applied to the guide 13 through the pressure
member 25 is released.
[0043] Hereinafter, an operation of the above cleaning apparatus
will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0044] Under the condition that the dust collection unit 10 is
separated from the main body 10, as shown in FIG. 4, the first
inlet 20a maintains a closed state thereof by the shutter 22. Then,
when the dust collection unit 10 is connected to the main body 10,
as shown in FIG. 5, the interlocking protrusions 23a contact the
guide planes 13a and move to the reception recesses 13c along the
guide planes 13a. Thereby, the shutter 22 is rotated together with
the interlocking levers 23 connected to the shutter hinge shaft
22a, thus opening the first inlet 20a.
[0045] Further, if opening of the connection hole 20g to remove the
foreign substances collected in the dust collection unit 20 is
required, when the cap 24 is rotated so as to open the connection
hole 20g, as shown in FIG. 6, the pressure members 25, each of
which is provided with one end connected to the cap hinge shaft 24a
of the cap 24, are rotated in cooperation with the cap 24. Then,
the pressure parts 25a, each of which is formed at the other end of
each of the pressure members 25, push the upper parts of the guides
13, thereby rotating the guides 13. Since the reception recesses
13c provided on the guides 13 face downwards according to rotation
of the guides 13, the interlocking protrusions 23a seated in and
supported by the reception recesses 13c are not supported by the
guides 13 any more. Therefore, the interlocking levers 23 and the
shutter 22 are rotated around the shutter hinge shaft 22a provided
with one end, at which the shutter 22 is provided, due to
self-weights thereof, and the other end of the shutter 22 is
supported by the support protrusion 20h provided on the lower end
of the first inlet 20a of the dust collection unit 20. Therefore,
the first inlet 20a is closed by the shutter 22.
[0046] When suction force generated from the external instrument V
is transmitted to the first storage part 20d and the second storage
part 20e provided in the dust collection unit 20 through the
connection hole 20g under the condition that the first inlet 20a is
closed by the shutter 22, the shutter 22 is slightly separated from
the support protrusion 20h provided at the lower end of the first
inlet 20a by the transmitted suction force, and air is introduced
into the first storage part 20d through a gap between the shutter
22 and the support protrusion 20h.
[0047] Here, the air introduced into the first storage part 20d is
guided to the lower portion of the first storage part 20d by the
lower end of the shutter 22 and the support protrusion 20h. Then,
the air flows along the lower surface of the first storage part
20d, suspends the foreign substances stacked on the lower surface
of the first storage part 20d, and then is inhaled together with
the suspended foreign substances into the external instrument
V.
[0048] Further, since the air is introduced into the first storage
part 20d through the narrow gap between the shutter 22 and the
support protrusion 20a, the air inhaled into the first storage part
20d passes through the first storage part 20d and is inhaled to the
external instrument V at a high velocity. Therefore, the foreign
substances in the first storage part 20d are effectively inhaled
together with the air flowing at the high velocity to the external
instrument V.
[0049] After removal of the foreign substances from the dust
collection unit 20 through the external instrument V has been
completed, when the cap 24 is rotated and closes the connection
hole 20g, the pressure members 25 are rotated in cooperation with
rotation of the cap 24, and thus the force applied to the guides 13
by the pressure members 25 is released. The guides 13 are rotated
and returned to their original positions by the elastic restoring
force of the restoring springs 14, and then move the interlocking
protrusions 23a and rotate the interlocking levers 23. Thereby, the
shutter 22 is rotated, thus closing the first inlet 20a, as shown
in FIG. 5.
[0050] As is apparent from the above description, in a cleaning
apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention, as a dust collection unit is separated from a main body,
a shutter closes an inlet, thereby preventing foreign substances
from pouring out of the dust collection unit through the inlet.
[0051] Further, as a cap for connection with an external instrument
is rotated and opens a connection hole, the shutter closes the
inlet, and when suction force from the external instrument is
transmitted to the shutter, the shutter is slightly separated from
a support protrusion, and air is inhaled through a narrow gap
between the shutter and the support protrusion and passes through a
storage part and is inhaled to the external instrument V at a high
velocity, thereby effectively removing foreign substances in the
storage part.
[0052] Although a few embodiments have been shown and described, it
would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may
be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles
and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the
claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *